Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think on a very serious note, I think that Yellowknife is part of the Territories too, and it has its own needs that it's not able to deal with. The cost of developing lots is becoming really prohibitive. Even with this market, the city is not able to develop Niven Lake and developers don't want to jump in there because the risk is too high and all of our infrastructure is aging. Mr. Speaker, may I ask the Minister whether or not he values the fact that every resident that lives in Yellowknife brings in $17,000 per person in transfer payments and that's essential for the Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. Lee, I will have to rule that question out of order. It's not original to your statement. Please keep your question directed towards your statement, which was the question about land development in Yellowknife, not a question about what individual incomes are. Could you rephrase your question to the Minister?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister not acknowledge that he is a Minister of this government and responsible for everybody and that includes the residents of Yellowknife and their needs to develop an affordable market? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of MACA, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have no problem acknowledging that.

Item 6, oral questions. Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of the number of individuals who have gained employment with our government after returning from the south after university, or graduated from our northern college system. Nor am I aware of the number of students who have not obtained employment as a result of the maximizing northern employment program. We do have a program that places priority on hiring of teacher graduates, nursing graduates and social work graduates, Mr. Speaker. That is in place. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister state where northern graduate teachers who are born and raised in the North would be classified in a priority rating system in the North as far as teaching positions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have an affirmative action policy, Mr. Speaker, but outside of that, as I stated, under the maximizing northern employment program, we have consistently stated that priority is given to those graduates who are from the North in the teaching profession, in the nursing profession and in the social work profession, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have heard one of our northern graduate teachers has applied for a teaching job in the North, and through a clerical error was not considered for a teaching job in the North. Would the Minister please advise us what he is prepared to do in the interest of maximizing northern employment to secure a teaching job for these northern graduate students who have been overlooked by district education councils? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the hiring of teachers is done directly by the district education councils. We have informed them of our priority hiring policy for teachers, nurses and social workers. We're continually in touch with the DECs on this matter, Mr. Speaker, and I am prepared to speak with the DECs again on this matter, so that northern graduates do receive priority hiring. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister please advise this House, if the various district education councils, when recruiting for teachers, when they advertise, do they advertise in the South where most of our northern students are attending university, and is that the direction that his department is giving to education councils, as to where they have to advertise? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Speaker, the advertising is done extensively because from time to time, the DECs are not aware of where they may be able to obtain employees. The one criterion we do place on students who wish to work in our system is that the location may not be according to their choice. It would have to be wherever vacancies may occur, wherever their job opportunities may lie. But, certainly, if Mr. Delorey wishes to pass on to me any names he may have, I will certainly look into this matter as well, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. I was listening with interest as he answered Mr. Braden's questions about the low income family designation and the $3,833 a month cutoff. I believe he indicated -- I don't have the Hansard with me -- that this was a national standard but he did acknowledge that this amount goes up in other more remote communities. I'm going to assume the $3,833 is the Yellowknife cut-off for low income families and we've got this from the national rate he speaks of. Could he confirm that? Thank you.